Fertility Enhancement Acupuncture Herbal Medicine

No matter if you are taking a modern approach to fertility treatment (through IVF, IUI, etc.), or want to take a natural approach, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can increase the chances of becoming pregnant and having a child. Research suggests that acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine helps to:

Treatment Programs

All acupuncture treatment plans are tailored to the specific needs of
each patient. However, gathering what we know from research and past
experience, there are some general guidelines to be aware of and
follow. Ideally, it is best to consult with an acupuncturist at least
3-4 months before beginning any fertility treatment. This allows the
time to make the necessary diet, lifestyle, and exercise changes
necessary to get the body into a more balanced, supportive state for
increased fertility. It also allows the time for the optimal number of
acupuncture & herbal medical treatments.

Acupuncture & ART

It is ideal to consult with your acupuncturist 3-4 months before
beginning a fertility treatment involving Assisted Reproductive
Technology (ART) to develop a treatment plan. Generally, when combining
acupuncture with ART (such as IVF, IUI, etc.), it is optimal to begin
at least 1 acupuncture treatment per week for at least 3 months prior to
the ART procedure. During the follicular stimulation phase (by
pharmaceuticals), the acupuncture treatment frequency is commonly
increased to twice per week. Also, it is optimal to receive an
acupuncture treatment 12-48 hours both before and after the ART
procedure.

Natural Fertility Treatment Only

If you are attempting to achieve a pregnancy through natural means only,
the average treatment course is between 3-6 months. Treatment
frequency will depend on many factors, including: age, previous
pregnancy history, general health, menstrual irregularities, and the
etiology of infertility (both Western & Eastern diagnoses). In
addition to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine plays a large role in
the natural infertility treatment plan. Lifestyle, dietary, and
exercise changes will also be a very important part of the treatment
plan.

Complicating Factors:

These following factors may warrant a longer acupuncture treatment plan and/or more frequent acupuncture treatments:

Female:

near the age of 40

previously taken fertility drugs

undergone previous ART procedures

polycystic ovaries

experiences PMS

elevated FSH level

history of endometriosis

produces antibodies to sperm

Male:

history of sexually transmitted disease

history of urinary tract infections

history of prostatitis or other urological issues

chronic low back pain

Acupuncture & ART - Clinically Researched Protocols

There are currently two prominent protocols that have been researched. They are as follows:

Sterner-Victorin et al Protocol: focused on acupuncture treatments leading up to IVF procedure